Proposed Decision to Issue Final Permit, City of Ankeny, Iowa, February 2009

Fact Sheet

February 2009

Proposed Decision to Issue Final Permit, City of Ankeny, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

On March 23, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 (EPA) is proposing to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit to the City of Ankeny, Iowa, to allow for the injection of treated drinking water into the Jordan Aquifer. This permit would be issued under the EPA-administered UIC program.

A draft permit has been developed by EPA which specifies conditions for the operation, monitoring, reporting, and abandonment of the injection well. This project has already received approval from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, but a federal permit is required for the injection portion of this process to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.

EPA is soliciting written comments on the proposed EPA permit for this facility. The Administrative Record for this action will remain open for public comment until March 16, 2009.

Background

The City of Ankeny has requested an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit for the operation of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery well at its City Well #6 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Facility located at 3700 NE Otter Creek Drive, Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa. The permit, if issued, would allow for the use of the well to inject water that has been treated to drinking water standards by the Des Moines Water Works into the Jordan Aquifer for storage and later recovery and use in the public water system.

The City of Ankeny has been investigating various alternatives to meet the growing peak water demand in the Greater Ankeny area. As an alternative to constructing additional water treatment facilities, the City of Ankeny has been looking at using the Jordan Aquifer as a storage and recovery zone for treated drinking water. In November 1996, EPA issued a permit for a pilot project conducted in Ankeny, Iowa, by the Des Moines Water Works that used the Jordan Aquifer as a storage and recovery zone. The results of the pilot study showed that the Jordan Aquifer could successfully be used as a storage and recovery zone for drinking water. Since that pilot project, EPA has issued two additional permits for full-scale projects in Clive and West Des Moines, Iowa, to the Des Moines Water Works. Those projects have also used the Jordan Aquifer as the storage and recovery zone. The injection well covered under the proposed permit would expand on the initial pilot injection/recovery project.

Under their plan, the City of Ankeny would direct water during periods of low demand to this well where it would be injected into the Jordan Aquifer and stored there until it is needed. When the demand for drinking water exceeds the capacity of the City of Ankeny to provide to the community, the water would be recovered from the aquifer and placed into the distribution system.

Before it is placed into the distribution system, the water would undergo testing and receive the necessary treatment to make sure it meets drinking water standards.

This method would allow the City of Ankeny to meet the anticipated peak water demand, and allow for an emergency backup supply during times of drought or flood without the need to develop additional drinking water treatment plants. Any expansion of this project would require an additional EPA permit to cover the conversion or construction of additional wells.

The permit application identifies the depth of all the underground sources of drinking water above and beneath the injection zone. Underground sources of drinking water are defined by the UIC regulations as aquifers, or portions thereof, which are being used or could be used as sources of drinking water. The injection would not negatively impact any underground sources of drinking water.

As required by the federal regulations, a search was conducted by the City of Ankeny to identify the locations of all known public or private wells within a minimum of a ¼-mile radius of the proposed injection site.

For this permit application, a search was conducted within both a one-mile radius and a ¼-mile radius of the proposed injection site. The one-mile search found 20 wells (16 active) within that area of review. Only one well exists within the ¼-mile radius.

None of the active or abandoned wells found in either search go into or through the proposed injection zone, and should not have an affect or be affected by this operation.

Permit Conditions

A draft permit has been developed by EPA which specifies conditions for the operation, monitoring, reporting, and abandonment of the injection well. This project has already received approval from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, but a federal permit is required for the injection portion of this process to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.

Permit conditions specific to this project are:

The proposed permit would allow injection to occur for 10 years after its effective date and may be renewed by EPA if an application is submitted by the City of Ankeny. The maximum injection rate for the well would not exceed 1,750 gallons per minute (or 2.52 million gallons per day).

The proposed permit would require periodic monitoring of the treated water for pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, and other chemical and physical characteristics before it can be placed in the well.

Samples would be taken at the start and end of every injection/recovery cycle. Samples would also be taken periodically during each injection/recovery cycle to ensure that the water is of drinking water quality. The results of the testing data would be reported to EPA on a quarterly basis. EPA may modify the sampling frequency, depending on the results of the chemical analyses during the life of the project.

The proposed permit would require that the City of Ankeny (or their agent) determine the mechanical integrity of the well before any injection may take place. This ensures that the well only allows the injection of fluids into the approved zone. Any modifications to the testing procedures used on the well are subject to EPA approval.

Opportunity for Public Comment

EPA is soliciting written comments on the Agency's proposed decision to approve this permit. The public comment period opens February 14, 2009, and closes March 16, 2009.

Copies of the permit application, supporting documentation, and Administrative Record are available for public review between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following location:

Individuals may submit written comments on the proposed permit, or specifically request that a public hearing be held. EPA will hold a formal public hearing if it is determined that there is a significant degree of public interest, based on the comments received. Any request for a public hearing must be in writing and must state the nature of the issue(s) that the requestor proposes to raise at the hearing.

Where to Send Comments

All written comments regarding the proposed decision must be postmarked by March 16, 2009, while all requests for a public hearing must be postmarked by March 2, 2009, and sent to:

A final decision to approve or deny the permit will be made after the close of the public comment period. EPA Region 7 will notify each person who submitted written comments of the final permit decision.

Additional Information

For more information, or to request copies of a more detailed fact sheet describing EPA's basis for its proposed decision, please contact Kurt Hildebrandt at the mailing address above, or by phone or e-mail, as follows: